Blog Entry#5: Building and Maintaining Healthy Friendships

In this blog, I’ll be reflecting on what it means to have a healthy friendship and how communication plays a key role in forming and maintaining close relationships. Based on Chapters 9 and 10 of our textbook, I’ve learned that healthy friendships are not just about fun times; they also require commitment, respect, trust, and ongoing effort. I’ll be exploring how these elements show up in my friendships, how we work through conflicts, and what steps I can take to build stronger, more meaningful connections.

To me, a healthy friendship means a relationship that is built on mutual respect, trust, and genuine care for each other. It means being able to be yourself and know that your friend accepts you without judgment. According to Baumeister’s need to belong theory, we all have a deep desire to form meaningful connections and friendships that help us meet that need. A strong friendship also comes with health rewards, like lower stress and emotional support during hard times. When both people are willing to invest continuously in the relationship and stay interdependent, meaning they support each other while still maintaining their independenc,e it creates a lasting and healthy bond.

One of my closest friends is someone I consider a great example of a healthy friendship. We’ve built our relationship on honesty, support, and strong communication. We check in on each other often, celebrate each other’s wins, and offer encouragement during the low times. Our kids are the same age, which gives us shared experiences as moms, and we also attend the same church, so fellowshipping is an extra bonus. These common interests have deepened our bond and have created joyful, meaningful memories together.

There was a time I showed up late for a dinner we had planned. When I asked if she was okay, she honestly said, “No, I’m hungry and disappointed.” At first, I was taken aback, but I later realized how much I appreciated her honesty. Her response opened the door for better communication. It taught me that empathy and constructive conflict resolution, both key topics this week, are essential for keeping friendships healthy and real.

Of course, not every friendship I’ve had has met this level of closeness. With many of the military families we’ve connected with over the years, it’s been hard to keep in touch. Life moves fast, and distance makes it difficult. One area I can work on is reaching out more consistently, maybe even setting reminders to check in or sending simple messages just to say hello/hola. I realize that building strong friendships takes intentional effort, and moving forward, I truly want to continue investing in relationships that bring mutual care, joy, and support.